How to Sell Art on Facebook – One Artist’s Way

When I joined Facebook, it wasn’t to sell art on Facebook. Originally, I was looking to find old friends and make new ones. My list of friends grew, and I started posting my paintings in a photo album on Facebook. Suddenly, people wanted to buy my paintings.

So here’s what I did to sell art on Facebook:

• I posted purchasing information in each photo caption and instructed potential buyers to be first one to leave a “Sold” comment below the painting they wanted to purchase.
• I accept payment through Paypal, which is by far the easiest and most common way to send and receive payments on the internet without having a credit card merchant account.
• Or you can add this FB application: LiqPay or Liquid Payments > http://www.facebook.com/#!/apps/application.php?id=24834960039&ref=ts

At the end of 2009, I discovered a group of people on Facebook who rescue horses destined for the slaughterhouse. The funds for rescuing horses and finding new homes for them comes from donations raised weekly on Facebook.

• My favorite painting subject is horses, so I decided to post some horse paintings and donate 50% of the proceeds to this cause.
• In spreading the news about my paintings for sale to benefit the horse rescue.
• I tapped into the membership of this group (which has over 6,000 members!) by posting a note on their Facebook wall that I was selling paintings to benefit their horse rescue cause.
• The first batch paintings I posted sold out in hours.
• Payment for the paintings comes to me via Paypal, and in turn I send 50% of the proceeds via Paypal to the horse rescue group.
• Paypal is simple:
  1. Sign up with an email address and link your new account to a credit card or bank account.
  2. This serves to verify who you are and also becomes a payment method if there are no funds (and there won’t be when you first sign up of course) in your PP account.
  3. When someone sends me payment for a painting, they just log into Paypal, enter my email address, and the money gets sent to me.
  4. Funds from my sales collect in my account.
  5. There are Paypal tutorials and FAQs at: http://www.facebook.com/l/2ffd5;paypal.com

The whole experience of selling paintings and learning how to sell art on Facebook for this cause has given me purpose, excitement, and direction in my art. It is a collaborative effort that benefits all involved:

The art buyer receives a painting to brighten their walls or give as a gift, the artist gets to sell paintings, and the horses have a second chance at life.

In a down economy, people still do what they can to help causes important to them. If you can find a popular cause in which to donate part of your art sales, it just might help you in return.

Guest artist/author: For over 20 years, Caren galloped Thoroughbred racehorses but now she is a full time artist, selling her art weekly on FaceBook. I met Caren on Facebook and asked her to share her foward thinking art marketing tips with us. Hopefully this article helps inspire others to “Think Outside the Frame.” ….and, Let’s connect Facebook! ~Lori 🙂

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What are your tips and tricks for selling on Facebook or other social media site? We would love to hear your story!

Finding Your Own Artistic Voice